Traction-belt and supporting-rollers.



P. E. HOLT.

TRACTION BELT AND SUPPORTING ROLLERS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUL-Y1, 1909.

I Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

P. E. HOLT. I TRACTION BELT AND SUPPORTING ROLLERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1909.

Patented Mar 7, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

yJ/A

INVEN TOR. G? m WITNESSES.- Z'. 7 M Z W I w m m T A P. E. HOLT.

TRACTION BELT AND SUPPORTING ROLLERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,-1909.

986,391. I Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

L H T? F: I n! 6 Z 6 2 5 "IF-O 5 WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

PLINY E. HOLT, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

TRACTION-BELT AND SUPPORTING-ROLLERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911. Serial No. 505,384.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, PLINY E. HOLT, a citizen of the United States, andresiding at 836 'West Poplar street, in the city of Stockton, county ofSan Joaquin, and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Traction-Belts and Supporting-Rollers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it mostnearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same. I

This invention relates to improvements in the endless belt type oftraction mechanisms, and more particularly to the traction belt andsupporting rollers, and consists in the novel construction andarrangement of, the parts as hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to provide a traction belt having acentral draft chain toeach side of which are suitably affixed tracksadapted to support the iveight of the tractor, and a series of separablesupporting rollers attached to the tractor frame and adapted to rollupon the said tracks. Heretofore it has been the practice to provide thecentral draft chain with side link plates capable of sustaining theweight of the tractor by interp'osing roller trucks between 'the draftchain and the tractor frame. This practice is objectionable because byplacing the whole sustained weight on the center of the traction sectionit thereby causes undue torsional strain on the draft chain in passingover rough roads, in turning, and in working on side hills. Further it.is impracticable to produce a chain capable of withstanding the twistingand crushing strains of supporting the-weight of the tractor in additionto the pulling strains of progression for which it is primarilyintended.

Broadly, the invention consists of a sprocket chain havingtractionlsections of suitable width attached theretoto form a continuousjointed tractionsurface; interlapped ,track sections fixed to thelateral edges of the traction sections; and supporting rollers adaptedto travel on said track sections.

In the drawin :-Figure 1 is a side ele ration illustratmg a com 'letetraction, mechanism comprising a driving sprocket, a

supporting truck, idle sprockets/in the ends thereof, a traction belt,and supporting rollers constructed in accordance with this invention.Fig. 2 is a detail plan view from above the traction belt. Fig. 3 is adetail cross section in side elevation of the same, taken on the line3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical cross sect-ion of the rollersand journal mounting, taken on the line 4=-4, Fig. 1, showing separablejournal boxes. Fig. 5 is a similar view of an alternative construction,showing a simplified construction of the journal mounting,

In detail, the construction consists of the traction belt comprising thedraft sprocket chain 1, of the conventional type. The traction sections2, having the transverse grousers 3, struck down from the body thereof,and attached to the draft chain by the lips 4, riveted to the tractionsectionsand encircling the alternative cross links of the draft chain.The opposite side of the traction section is attached by the clips 5,riveted thereto and interposed between the cross links andtheadjacentedge of the preceding traction section. The method of attachment-willvary to meet the variation in the type of draft chain used. The outeredges of the traction sect-ions are provided with the track sections 6,fixed .thereon and having their ends stepped into each other to overlapthe gap between the traction sections in such a manner as to form acontinuous hearing surface for the supporting rollers, and at the sametime be capable of passing around the sprockets. To clear theoverhanging ends of the tracks the corners of the traction sections arebent away, as at 7, to allow the necessary play. in passing around thesprockets. To permit the use of the cheap malleable cast iron sprocketchain, the clips 4 are composed of hardened steel to receive the wear ofthe driving sprocket, and the alternate links are provided with thehardened steel sleeves 8, for the same purpose. This form of "chain isdesirable asit is ampl strong for the single function of draft, as itsfirst cost is low and its maintenance is nominal. p

The supporting rollersconiprise a pair of rollers -9, havingthe treads10, andthe tapered spindles 11. These rollers are journaled in theseparable boxes 12, which are held together by the transverse bolts 15,which serve to clamp the boxes to the side beams, 14, of the supportingtrucks and the interposed spacing blocks 19. The rollers are held in thetapered boxes by the bolt 13, passing through the rollers. Grease is fedto the journals by the compression cup 16, screwed into the pipe 17,screwed into the boxes and discharging into the chamber 18, whichdistributes to the spindles of both rollers. 'The particular advantageof c0nstructing the rollers and their boxes in this manner is that oneor more rollers may be removed or replaced without disturbing thetraction belt or the other rollers in the series. By removing the bolt15, the boxes may be separated at the joint 20, and by removing t e bolt13, the roller may be separated an taken out without disturbing thetraction belt or the other rollers in the series. This separability inthe rollers and boxes permits the chilling of the wearing surfaces ofeach in casting and results in a very durable structure. The journalboxes 'may, if desired, be cast in one piecethe construction depicted inFig. 5.

This application is drawn particularly with-reference to theconstructign and ar- .ra ngement of a traction belt and supporting 80rollers which may be used with any of the general forms" of tractionbelt tractors, a detailed description of which is deemed superfluous.

Having thus described this invention what 85' is claimed and desired tosecure by Patent is 1. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain,a series of traction sections havin one end secured to said chain by aclip 40 fixed to the traction section and encircling the cross link ofthe chain, and having the opposite end attached by a clip fixed thereon-and interposed between the edgeof the adjacent traction section and thecross link to which it is attached, interlapped track sections fixed tothe lateral edges of the traction sections, and separable 'rollersjournaled in separable boxes and adapted to roll on said track sections.

2. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series oftraction sections secured-to said chain, interlapped rail sections havinan upturned flange and fixed to the latera edges of the tractionsections, and

separable rollersjournaled in separable Boxes and adapted to roll uponsaid rail secions.

draft chain, a series of tractioni sections,

clips for securing said sections to said'cliain,

Letters of the adjacent 3. A traction mechanism consistingof a' andseparable rollers adapted to roll upon said rail sections.

1. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series oftraction sections, clips for securing said sections to said chain, andseparable rollers adapted to roll upon the lateral edges of saidtraction sections.

5. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series oftraction sections,

clips for securing said sections to said chain,

interlapped rail sections fixed to the lateral edges of the tractionsections, and separable rollers adapted to roll on said rails.

6. A traction mechanism consisting of a traction belt, separable rollersadapted to roll upon the lateral edges of said traction belt and havingtapered spindles assembled with their smaller ends abutting withinseparable journals.

7. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series oftractionsections having one end secured to said chain by a'clip fixed to thetraction section and encircling the cross links of the chain, an'dhavingthe opposite end attached by a clip fixed thereon and interposed betweenthe edge of the adjacent traction section and the cross links to whichit is attached.

8. A traction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series oftraction sections each having'one end secured to said chain by a cl ipengaging the cross link of the chain the o posite end of said sectionbeing attache to a second clip interposed between the edge of theadjacent traction section and the cross link to which it is attached.

9. Atraction mechanism consisting of a draft chain, a series of tractionsections each having one end secured to said chain by a clip engagingthe cross link of the chain, the opposite end of said section beingattached to a second clip interposed between the edge traction sectionand the cross'linkto which it is attached, interlapped track sectionsfixed to the lateral edges of the traction sections, and separable rollsjournaled in separable boxes and adaptedto' roll onsaid track sections.

10. A traction mechanism comprising a draft chain provided with tracksections, side beams, separable journal boxes mounted in said beams, andse ed in said boxes and aving tread portions to engage saidtracksections. j

11. A traction mechanism comprising a draft chain provided with tracksections, side beams, separable journal boxes mounted in said beams, andseparable rollers provided with tapered spindles mounted in said boxes,said rollers engaging said track sections. a

12. A traction mechanism comprising a arable rollers mountdraft chainprovided with track sections, side beams, separable journal boxesmounted in said beams, and separable rollers'provided with abuttingspindles mounted in said boxes, said rollers engaging said track 1sections, and securing boltspassed through each pair, of abuttingspindles.

In testimony whereof, I hive hereunto set rny hand.

PLINY E. HOLT.

Witnesses:

JESSE VAN VALKENBURG, PERCY S. SAUNDERS.

